Posted by ed_uk on May 10, 2006, at 18:32:55
In reply to Re: Low Dose Prozac with OCD, posted by Larry Hoover on May 10, 2006, at 14:50:27
Hi everyone
Fluoxetine (Prozac) comes as a once-weekly capsule: PROZAC WEEKLY. The only difference between normal fluoxetine and Prozac Weekly is that Prozac weekly caps are enteric coated (which causes a slight delay in release) and contain 90mg fluoxetine instead of the common 20mg. I imagine the enteric coat is supposed to reduce the risk of nausea.
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/prozac_weekly.htm
Fluoxetine can only be taken once weekly after a patient has been stabilised on daily/alternate day fluoxetine for several weeks or more. Normal fluoxetine caps can also be taken weekly, you don't have to buy Prozac Weekly. A person taking 10mg fluoxetine per day (70mg per week) could attempt to switch to 60-80mg once weekly. Single weekly doses of fluoxetine > 90mg have not been studied.
Like Larry said, I think it's normally better to take fluoxetine more frequently. Large gaps between doses lead to troughs in the blood level, which may be a problem - it might reduce efficacy and allow withdrawal symptoms to emerge between doses. If a high dose of fluoxetine is taken once weekly, peak blood levels may be high, increasing the risk of side effects. Personally, I would not recommend taking fluoxetine once weekly. Alternate day dosing is just fine though.
Ed
poster:ed_uk
thread:642053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060510/msgs/642316.html